CSU assessing men's basketball program

Larry Eustachy was previously investigated by the university during 2013-14 season

By Sean Star

Loveland Reporter-Herald

Posted:
01/31/2018 10:15:48 PM MST

Updated:
01/31/2018 10:17:37 PM MST

Colorado State men's basketball head coach Larry Eustachy, left, his held back by assistant Steve Barnes has he beckons official Gerry Pollard during a Dec. 23 game at Moby Arena. (Sean Star / Loveland Reporter-Herald)

FORT COLLINS — Colorado State is assessing the future of its men's basketball program under the direction of head coach Larry Eustachy.

"We have started a climate assessment, which involves conversations with the students and staff members associated with the men's basketball program," athletic director Joe Parker said in a statement released by the university on Wednesday afternoon, less than five hours before the Rams' home game against rival Wyoming. "As always, we will not make any public comments until our process is complete and have no additional information to share at this time."

Justin Michael, former sports director for the Rocky Mountain Collegian, first reported Tuesday night that athletic director Joe Parker was reviewing Eustachy's conduct as a head coach.

This is the second time during Eustachy's six seasons at CSU that the athletic department has looked into how Eustachy is running the team. According to a report by the Fort Collins Coloradoan published a year ago, Eustachy was investigated during the 2013-14 season, which concluded with then-athletic director Jack Graham believing there was enough reason to fire Eustachy because he "created a culture of fear and intimidation and emotionally abused his players."

Eustachy was instead put on a personal-improvement plan.

According to multiple sources, Eustachy stormed out of a meeting twice on Wednesday afternoon at the McGraw Athletic Center. Earlier in the week, players were interviewed by the athletic department regarding Eustachy, and only two were supportive of their coach, sources said.

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Eustachy is 121-73 in five-plus seasons at Colorado State, tied for Stew Morrill for the second-most wins in program history. Eustachy's win percentage (.624) ranks behind only Boyd "Tiny" Grant. However, the Rams have been the NCAA Tournament just once during Eustachy's watch, his first season in 2012-13 when he inherited a team mostly built by current Nebraska coach Tim Miles.

Eustachy has a base salary of $985,012 and is under contract for three more seasons.

With injuries to their two leading scorers, Prentiss Nixon and J.D. Paige, the ninth-place Rams (10-13, 3-7 Mountain West) have lost four straight, the program's longest losing streak in eight years.

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